China Imposes 25% Tariff on Canadian Seafood in Response to Discriminatory Measures

On March 8, 2025, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced a significant retaliatory measure against Canada's discriminatory tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and metal products. Effective from March 20, 2025, a 25% tariff will be imposed on all seafood products originating from Canada.

This countermeasure is in strict accordance with the Foreign Trade Law and the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, serving as a necessary response to Canada's unilateral protectionist actions. According to the Ministry of Commerce, Canada began imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and steel-aluminum products starting in October 2024, which constitutes a "discriminatory restriction" as defined by Chinese law.

The investigation confirmed that these Canadian restrictions have severely disrupted normal trade relations between China and Canada, harming the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. As a result, China has decided to implement equivalent retaliation against Canadian seafood exports.

The newly imposed tariffs will cover all categories of seafood under customs code 03, including key export products such as lobster, snow crab, and Arctic shrimp. Importers will be required to pay an additional 25% tariff on top of the existing applicable rates, calculated as follows: additional tariff amount = tariff assessment price × 25%. Existing tax exemption policies will remain unchanged, but the new tariff will not be eligible for exemptions.

As the largest seafood consumer globally, China's tariff adjustment is set to directly impact Canada's seafood export landscape. International trade data indicates that Canada exports approximately $1.25 billion worth of seafood to China annually, accounting for 21% of its total seafood exports. If Canada fails to consult through the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute resolution mechanism before the measures take effect, its seafood exporters may face significant market share losses.

The Ministry of Commerce has reiterated that China maintains an open attitude. If the Canadian government rescinds its discriminatory measures or resolves trade disputes through compensation or consultation, China will adjust or lift the tariffs as appropriate. The future direction of China-Canada economic relations now hinges on Canada’s ability to correct its erroneous practices and adhere to multilateral trade rules.